On May 20, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, along with members of the Patrol Division, conducted an undercover narcotics operation.
Detectives from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office arranged for a large quantity of heroin to be delivered to Boone in an effort to stem the flow into the High Country. During the operation the subjects fled the scene resulting in a high speed car chase through Boone.
Boone Police joined in and were able to get the suspect vehicle stopped at the intersection of Depot and River streets. Recovered were 50 grams of heroin and a semi-automatic pistol. Three suspects were arrested and charged in the incident.
Tristian Gilmore, 23, Morgan Newsome, 21 and Avery Forney, 23, all three of Charlotte were charged with two counts of Trafficking in Opium and Heroin each and were each given a $250,000.00 secured bond.
All three were also given a court date of June 18. The investigation is still ongoing and further arrests are expected.
ASU Police also provided assistance to Boone PD and WCSO officers in the apprehension of the suspects.
“This is where cooperation and coordination pays off,” Sheriff Len Hagaman said. “Unfortunately, all local agencies are seeing more and more Heroin use in Watauga and surrounding counties. It is cheap and easier to obtain with supplies being tracked from foreign countries to Atlanta, to Charlotte, to Western North Carolina.”
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